Symphyseal Injuries as Indices for Condylar Fractures Diagnosis

Aims: The mechanism of condylar fractures and indices for diagnosis are complex hence the aim of this study was to investigate the influence of various injuries in the symphyseal region on condylar fracture patterns and correlating it with diagnosis.

Study Design: Prospective study.

Place and Duration of Study: Oral and Maxillofacial clinic of University of Uyo Teaching hospital, Uyo Nigeria from February 2014 to January 2020.

Methodology: The study included 111 patients with condylar fractures associated with varying degrees of symphyseal injuries. Data on age, sex, soft tissue injuries, and symphyseal fractures were collated and analyzed using multivariate logistic regression.

Results: Age range 21-30 years had the highest occurrence of condylar fracture with males having more condylar fractures than females. Contusion has more association with condylar fractures followed by hard tissue fracture at the symphysis with a frequency of 38 (34.23%) while abrasion showed the injury with the least impact. Majority of the impact resulted in unilateral condylar fractures with a frequency of 62 (55.86%). Condylar fractures at the level of the condylar neck was more prevalent than at the level of the condylar head with the head showing only a frequency of 40 (36.04%) as against 71 (69.96%) for condylar neck fractures

Conclusion: The occurrence of mandibular fractures is strongly correlated with age, sex, soft tissue injuries and hard tissue injuries at the symphysis. . Overall, contusion gave more of unilateral fractures while fracture at the symphysis resulted in more of bilateral condylar fractures.